We know the path to understanding the development application process can, at times, be unclear.

With feedback we’ve gathered from the community over the last year, the City has identified positive changes we can make to help residents find the information they need about development in Burlington.

While we will continue to look for opportunities to make improvements, here are a number of things the City has done so far.

Not sure which ward you live in? Use the interactive map to locate new development projects in your neighbourhood;

Information about upcoming public meetings are easy to locate at the top of the page;

Introduction of status information tells you if application is received, under review, on hold, appealed, approved, or refused;

Information about the planning process is located on every project page for easy reference;

Features details of the proposed development, including concept renderings;

Easily locate contact information for City planner managing the application; and

Subscribe to any web page to receive email notifications when changes to the development project web page are made.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS

Development Application Notice Letters

Once a development application is received by the City of Burlington, a notification letter is sent to all property owners within 120 metres of the proposed development (300 metres in the rural area).

The City has made updates to these notification letters, to make them easier to understand, including clear information about what is proposed and how you can share your feedback with the City.

Development Application Notice Signs

Once the City has received a completed development application, the applicant is required to install a development application notice sign on the proposed development site.

The City has updated the design of these signs to make contact information and key details about the proposed development easier to understand and find.

Pre-Application Community Consultation Meetings

In order to capture community feedback on a proposed development before a development application is submitted to the City, pre-application consultation meetings with the community are held by the developer before any applications are submitted.

Notices with details about the meeting are prepared by the developer and sent by Canada Post in advance of the meeting date to properties and businesses within 120 metres of the proposed development location.

At the consultation meeting, the property owner shares the proposed plans with the community and gathers their input and feedback to make any adjustments to the proposal before a development application is submitted to the City.

Community Meetings Listed on City Calendar and Social Media

Community and Council meetings related to development applications are shared on burlington.ca/calendar under “Get Involved” and on the City’s Twitter account.

Subscribe to the calendar to receive a weekly summary of upcoming meetings by email, every Thursday between 4-4:30 p.m. or follow the City on Twitter at @cityburlington.

MY TAKE:

Understanding the development application process can sometimes be a complicated one, especially if you’re unfamiliar with it. I wholly support the City of Burlington’s updates to its Development Application pages online and taking feedback from residents to make it easier to understand and navigate. Clearly identifying how and when our residents can participate in this process is the only way I, as your Mayor, your City Council and City Staff can hear directly from you and your feelings about a particular application. Only together can we ensure we are building the best future for our City.

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